Last week, representatives from the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and the Children’s Cabinet joined Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo in celebrating the signing of Senate Bill (SB) 263 regarding the purchase of some land and buildings to house the Oddie Project.
The bipartisan bill will flush $6 million into the Oddie Project, which aims to bring affordable childcare and community services to Sparks.
When completed, the Oddie Project 65,067-sq.-ft. building will be able to accommodate up to a hundred children and will also contain a commercial-grade production kitchen, community food pantry, and market. Office space has been allocated to provide job placement/workforce development opportunities in high demand sectors and industry-recognized certification programs in ServSafe, Scratch Coding, First Aid/CPR, and more. A community connection center/resource hub will also be a part of it, and meeting room/classroom space is part of its design. Wraparound case management services will also be included based on clients’ individual needs.
“In true partnership with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, The Children’s Cabinet is excited to be developing the Oddie Project. This joint venture allows our organizations to join forces, combine resources, and integrate services to address and fulfill our community’s growing needs. The Children’s Cabinet and Food Bank of Northern Nevada each have unique strengths we will harness to bring a thriving community center to life and improve the lives of those who call Reno/Sparks home,” says The Children’s Cabinet CEO Kim Young.
“After serving the community for 40 years, we are dedicated, more than ever, to imagining ending hunger. This project is at the heart of our commitment to provide and support tangible solutions to address the social determinants of health. Partnerships are a cornerstone of our mission and this partnership with The Children’s Cabinet will amplify our impact. We are thrilled to join forces with The Children’s Cabinet with a vision that not only will the center thrive, but the community will thrive as well,” Food Bank of Northern Nevada CEO Nicole Lamboley added.
The land acquisition by the Children’s Cabinet and Food Bank of Northern Nevada is about 7.25 acres.
“A lot of what we do in government is based on partisanship. Every once in a while, you have a bill come forward where all of that partisanship is removed, and you actually have a partnership. This bill is a testament to that because this is a benefit to the whole and not just a few,” Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo said at the August 29 bill signing ceremony.
The Oddie Project will be located at 2150 Oddie Boulevard in Sparks at the corner of Oddie and Sullivan.